Curious about how different prepaid carriers coverage compares? Here are the official coverage maps for all the nationwide prepaid mobile operators in the US. Click a map to go the original on the operators site.

While comparing nation coverage is interesting and maybe even useful what really matters is if there is coverage where you live, work, party and vacation. All the carriers have detailed block level coverage maps on their sites.

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Be careful with Cricket, they have, by far, the strictest, roaming rules of all carries. You go over 50% of your usage outside your home area,even once, and you are immediately cancelled, no warning!!on the other side of the spectrum is T-Mobile, they don't care at all, you can roam all you want. All others are somewhere in between.

Best Prepaid MVNO is dependent on what you use the phone mainly for and where you need the coverage.CDMA: PagePlus = Verizon prepaid coverage + calls while roaming at .29/minute.GSM: H2O, Airvoice, Jolt = AT&T prepaid network.

The AT&T roaming isn't all its cracked up to be. If you are roaming, you will be on 2G EDGE (except for select areas that allow throttled 3G roaming). MVNOs on AT&T may get lower network priority/speeds but you will get better coverage considering AT&T is now putting more attention on its 3G and 4G LTE networks.

I just ordered a StraightTalk Galaxy Proclaim from a Verizon-only ZIP code (it wasn't offered in my ZIP code, even though Verizon is supposed to have the best coverage here (Denver). If Verizon is so widespread, why is the coverage so sparse on the map for StraightTalk CDMV-Android map? I've been trying desperately for about 10 days to figure out how to get a smartphone on the Verizon network at a price I can afford (retiree, not very tech-smart). Did I just order something that isn't going to work, or isn't going to give me the widespread Verizon coverage indicated on their non-Android map?

You don't have to give them the zip code of where you live. Give them any zip or area code you want. I live in NE., but have a Honolulu, HI. area code. I did that just to mess with peoples caller I.D.s.

If they don't offer it in your zip code why would you continue to try to buy it? That should have told you there was going to be a coverage problem.. Have you tried the phone in other locations in town? Perhaps you are having problems due to the mtns..

I was on the NET10 (ATT) BYOD and found the straight talk GSM-A map is not accurate. The map above for ATT that is orange and brown was more accurate to what I was getting. I Switched to the Samsung Proclaim phone so that I was getting the verizon network and am getting great coverage I live in SE Minnesota,

Be careful assuming tmo phones roam on ATT. I had a tmo postpaid phone and had no coverage in a rural area in VA. I had a prepaid art phone which had solid signal in the same area. The tmo phone did not switch to ATT.

T-Mobile prepaid phones roam on regional operators or AT&T in some areas. There has to be a roaming agreement in place for roaming to be possible. The T-Mobile maps show where roaming is available and where it's not.

Are the above Tracfone/Net10 GSM maps still current? I notice this article is kind of old and the link doesn't go to their website anymore. They only have the CDMA map on their website, yet they sell GSM phones.

Tracfone's coverage maps have always been pretty worthless because it's not possible to zoom in to see any level of detail. But I haven't heard of any changes to Tracfone coverage and the GSM map here is the same as the one on the Tracfone site.

For CDMA Tracfone and Net10 PAYGO you can use the Verizon map as Tracfone appears to roam everywhere Verizon does. Net10 Unlimited Android coverage is the same as Straight Talk and is considerably less than Tracfone especially with CDMA.

i have a tmobile contract expiring soon and have been looking at pre-paid options available . my service area is houston,tx. i like my tmobile galaxy s phone and have unlock codes for it. i am looking for a monthly unlimited plan, i dont use much data( checking e mails, looking at a website during lunch, and sometimes gps navigation when walks, biking, driving ). i was looking at net10/ simple mobile/ but thier customer service reveiws seem poor any suggestions?

Depending on how many minutes and texts you need look at T-Mobile's $30 1500 minutes or texts, 30 MB plan, GoSmart's $35 unlimited, Ptel's $5/month and up pay as you go or Ptel's $40 unlimited plan. All of these use the T-Mobile network. See T-Mobile and T-Mobile MVNOs Compared for details of thes plans.

As your phone is unlocked you could also use an AT&T based plan but it would be more expensive at most usage levels and you wouldn't get high speed data as your T-Mobile Galaxy S 4G doesn't support AT&T's 3G bands.

I live in Southern California and have used Page Plus Cellular for years. They operate off of the Verizon Network. I have traveled to many places in the U.S. and have never had a problem using my phone (Casio GZOne Commando C771). They also have a lot of different rate plans that pretty much covers any budget situation. Plus if you already have a Verizon Wireless phone, your all set......just activate it, pick a plan, pay for it and go!

It means everytime you buy minutes, they will make it triple what you buy. In other words, you but 1000 minutes, it will actually be 3000 minutes added. Read fine print. May be restrictions as to the minimum minutes to buy, ect.

The LG 840 is sold by Tracfone, NET10 and Straight Talk. It's a touchscreen only phone. The screen is pretty good quality. It's responsive, bright and reasonably sharp. Most users like the phone but some complain that the phone's reception in weak signal areas isn't very good.

The Tracfone LG 840 is a triple minutes for life phone. That means that when you add refills the minutes are tripled. So a $20 - 60 minute refill gives you 180 minutes.

Normally when you buy a Tracfone it doesn't come with any minutes. But HSN and some online dealers sell the phone with 1400 minutes good for a year included.

Our experience with the Tracfone LG 840G is that the reception is pretty poor in marginal areas where our old Motorola flip phone worked fine. Phone is homed on AT&T. We also have problems with handling the touch screen often rejecting calls we would like to accept. We just ordered a LG 250C using a Verizon only ZIP Code giving up the triple minutes and easy texting feature for a simpler phone with hopefully better coverage.

I don't know how I managed to stumble onto this website, but it's an amazing resource. Thank you for managing this service! I am considering a LG505C tracfone from amazon with triple minutes. I live in NH but will be traveling to SD/Wyo soon. I googled and found out that this phone is a CDMA. There is no place in the check-out process to enter a Verizon zipcode. How do I ensure the phone is set to Verizon coverage in this situation?

So thankful to find a helpful website full of great information. I'm looking to purchase an iphone with a pre-paid contract. I'm currently with Virgin Mobile but have terrible data service with it but I am using an android phone. Would purchasing the iphone help my service with Virgin Mobile or would you recommend switching to a different carrier?

This is a great resource! We've been considering moving from US Cellular to a Straight Talk smart phone primarily due to local coverage issues. However, we typically spend 6 months in NC and 6 months in FL - Will this create administrative or roaming issues with Straight Talk?Also, we would appreciate suggestions for an affordable smart phone from Straight Talk. Thanks!

Straight talk has NO roaming charges anywhere in the U.S. One bad thing about S.T. is that even if you buy the international card, it will only make calls ORIGINATING in U.S. or Purto Rico. Then it will call most international destinations as long as you have a access calling code. In other words, when we went on a Disney Cruise, Straight Talk would not work while out to sea.Even thought the ship has signal for most major carriers via satelite, the actual tower that the sat. signal comes from will be closes country to which a tower is availible. To put it simple, if the call does not originate on a U.S. or Purto Rico based tower, straight talk will not be able to call out. It will not have a signal.

Hey.. Great site! If anyone has an answer I would greatly appreciate it... I live in upstate NY (12771) and want to get rid of Verizon. Is Straight Talk my best choice? Verizon does have the best coverage in my area and I would prefer to use their towers. Thanx again!!!

check if AT&T have a good coverage and choose straight talk using the ATT sim card because the box comes with 2 sims, one fot ATT and one for T mobile.If Tmobile the best coverage,choose the Tmobile sim card. Thank you and good luck.

I am a over the road truck driver and have verizon galaxy s3,looking to go prepaid to save $60 PER month,i use it in NV. UT. WY.CO.SD.ND.MT.and live in st maries ID. looking for advice, looking for best coverage..GSM or CDMA? i run both interstate and rural highways for mining and oil fields. Which carrier would be best and can i get new sim card or do i need to purchase new phone. i would appreciate any and all advice! email [email protected]

You might want to delete your comment and repost it without including your email address. This is a public web page that every spam bot in the world can see and scrape. Click the "subscribe by email" link to securely sign up to receive replies.

Generally speaking AT&T and Verizon have the best overall coverage. Use the links to coverage maps on this page to research which will work the best for you.

Your Verizon S III won't work on an AT&T based service and would need to be flashed to work on a Verizon based one.

I live 40 miles East/S East of Lewiston, Idaho and have a simple non-android, non-smartphone on a prepaid acct from Verizon... the only thing I can do on it here is txt... I need a phone/plan that can receive/make calls, txt, etc from home (and like the prepaid option best) but have no idea which would be best... can you help? I live far enough out in the boonies that the only internet service I can get that works ok is Hughesnet Satellite...I have tried to study your maps, but not much luck... any help would be appreciated...Thanx for the GREAT info! D :)

If you click on the maps, it will take you to the operator's site where you can enter your address for a detailed map.

I'm guessing that 40 mi ESE of Lewiston would be near Winchester, Idaho. Looking at the AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Boost (for Sprint) maps it appears like AT&T is the only one that might possibly cover your area. AT&T coverage ends just NW of Winchester however.

If you have any neighbors, what do they use? Local expertise trumps computer generated maps every time.

There's a local cellular operator, Inland Cellular that covers the area around Winchester. They don't seem to offer prepaid however. I believe that Verizon roams on Inland which is why you can text, You should also be able to call for 29¢/minute on Verizon while roaming.

I live in Pullman and hunt/fish throughout your area. ATT, Verizon and Inland Cellular are the only providers that work in your area. Verizon uses Inland Cellular as a partner in that area , so they may not work either. They do have competitive prepaid plans though. Try ATT first and Inland Cellular next. You likely won't get much better coverage though since they tend to share a lot of the same towers.

The new, purple and pink Tmobile postpaid map is not accurate in some places. https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage.htmlThe old maps shown on this post and the latest, green Tmobile prepaid map are still accurate.

Thanks, Dennis. I confused the purple (partner roaming) with dark pink (strong Tmobile) because the spots I checked have weak Tmobile prepaid map coverage, but partner coverage indicated on the postpaid map, something I did not expect to see. I thought Tmobile only used partner towers where they had no Tmobile towers, but that is apparently not true for postpaid accounts if the postpaid map is correct. These areas got a weak signal or no service on Ptel last week, but are shown as partner coverage (purple) on the postpaid map. I don't have a postpaid phone to verify the partner coverage in these spots.

MetroPCS new coverage map is very interesting. It shows GSM coverage in lots of places where Tmobile and Metro have no network. Does this mean that they include roaming on AT&T?http://www.metropcs.com/metro/maps/coverage-map.jsp

Aio's coverage map shows LTE in yellow so you can see where they and GoPhone provide the fastest speeds. Please consider including this map. The current GoPhone/MVNO map only shows "best coverage." Is that supposed to by LTE, or just HSPA+/strong signal?

When I click on the map itself, error page says We're Sorry, that request cannot be completed. URL at top of the error page is:http://www.metropcs.com/metro/maps/coverage-map.jsp/ (it's the slash at the end)When I click on the MetroPCS name/URL, I get:http://www.metropcs.com/metro/maps/coverage-map.jsp and the map does load if I wait a while. It was not loading earlier for me.

All the coverage maps have big holes with no signal, especially out West. I saw an article in the current Aug 19 Autoweek magazine on cycling overland. They recommended a sat comm device when you are venturing out into remote places - could save your life. For $170, the Spot Connect turns your smartphone into a sat comm device. $120 Spot's Sat GPS messenger provides essential comm functions and custom messaging. $100 buys you the Spot Personal Tracker that handles the basics. If you can afford the adventure, you can afford one of these.

A lot of those blank areas are also devoid of roads, houses, or even trails. We have the same issues up in the Adirondacks in northern New York State. This summer I lost signal for a half hour driving on a major route through there. AT&T or Verizon are the only services worth bothering with. A few years ago you could drive an hour or more with no signal, but they are gradually filling in the holes along major roads. But, if you hike off into the woods you can easily lose all service, unless you climb a mountain. From the mountain tops you sometimes connect through towers in Vermont or Canada, which makes for confusing 911 calls at times.

Found your site by googling "tracfone". Great info! Thank you! I have a Motorola W370, Tracfone, that needs re-activated. I want to use it to call my daughter in Coimbatore, India (CDMA network?). I know it works here and I think tracfone works there. My concern is: does tracfone, or this Motorola phone, have compatibility with "viber", which is a system already used by people in the household where she is staying. Any advice? I currently use Verizon, but am not happy ever since they assured me that her phone would work - does not. My intuition is to re-activate the Motorola, then change devices if I need to, in order to use "viber". Make sense? or, I select a replacement phone that works with "viber" and skip the tracfone...however tracfone will cost much less to use.Confused.

I have a Boost Mobile Samsung Galaxy SII and want to change prepaid carriers. Been with them for a few years and now that Boost upgraded their towers half the time I can't get signal even with my signal booster. All they can say is that I am not in coverage area. My question is which carrier will let me bring my phone I already have? I live near Smithfield, OH

I am a straight talk customer and would like to buy off ebay a unlocked verizon samsung galaxy 3. I currently have the samsung centura. My centura uses the verizon net work. Would an unlocked phone work on the straight talk plan using the same verizon towers I have now just by using walmarts sim card fir straight talk?

An AT&T S III will work with a Straight Talk AT&T SIM, a T-Mobile S III will work with Straight Talk T-Mobile SI. An unlocked GSM S III will work with either Straight Talk SIM.

Straight Talk will not activate a Verizon S III on the Verizon network. There's a hack (see: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1809314 ) to enable GSM on the Verzion S III but it's not simple and you will only get 2G with a Straight Talk SIM.

Interesting. Ebay seller has samsung galaxy s3's that are sprint phones and says he can flash them to use verizon straight talk. Says create an account on straight talk then give him your account # and password so he can activate it . Basicly your phonne # and your pass word he activates it then ships gou your new phone.

He's probably getting the phone's MEID serial number from the account and cloning it on to the S III. Straight Talk thinks the S III is a supported phone. Problems with this:Straight Talk can reportedly detect that the MEID is cloned and will kick the phone off the network if they do.Cloning MEIDs is probably illegal.

Dennis, I was wondering if you can help me out... I currently have an LG Venice for Boost. I'm currently looking to try another service. I was thinking about straight talk. However, the kind of plan I'm looking for is an unlimited prepaid plan with more than 1G per month. Which prepaid service has the best coverage? I like to travel and would rather have that. I was also wondering if i got a GSM phone and use it for straight talk would it be good? Have you ever heard of H20? If so any concerns or comments on that provider? Thanks!

I didn't want to use my LG Venice.. It's too slow for me I was going to get an upgrade either the Iphone 5 or Galaxy S3 not the S4 because there aren't too many prepaid carriers that provide that phone. I was just wondering which carrier would cover the most areas. I just travel to FL and CA most of the time I live in Boston.

Mobile Virtual Network Operator - a mobile operator that doesn't operate its own network and resells service from one of the big four. Straight Talk, NET10, PagePlus, PTel, Red Pocket and Airvoice are a few of the larger MVNOs.

I see like Boost is an MVNO because it uses Sprint right? I'm on the ATT wireless site now and I checked the $60 monthly unlimited w/data (Go phone prepaid) it doesn't have a large selection of phones.... Can I use my own phone??

Brightspot coverage and speeds are identical to T-Mobile. LTE and off-network voice and text roaming is available unlike other T-Mobile MVNOs. I haven't heard anything about customer support quality yet.

NET10 and Straight Talk are the same company including the same not very goo customer support and MMS issues.

I don't understand why TracFone ask the Zip code to find a phone. What does that mean, is that we cannot use the phone our side of the zip code or do we have to pay the roaming fee out side of the zip code. If that is the case, how much they charge as roaming fee for the usage out of zip code or out of state.

TracFone asks for your zip code so it can limit your phone selection to models that use a network operator (AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile) that has service in your area and is most cost effective for TracFone.

You can use the phones anywhere in the country that the operator associated with the phone has coverage at no extra charge. TracFone's non-Android phones also have no extra cost roaming on other partner networks.

Hello! I am moving to zip code 59801 and I am currently with Net 10. I want to do a BYOD and need to purchase a new phone. Could you please point me in the direction of carrier I should lean towards (AT&T Verizon etc) and is there a differance between Net 10, Strait Talk or TracFone? Thank you so much!

I have never been in zip 59801 so I have no personal experience with any operator's coverage there. Follow the links on this page to each operator's detailed maps and check which ones cover that zip. Better yet ask people who live or work there which operators works for them.

Thanks for your valuable article and great responses. Would you offer advice for the zip code 47906 which is home area for Purdue Univ. I just have general usage for voice, text and data, not a lot of each of them.

I don't have any personal experience with coverage in zip code 47906. As always the best source of coverage information is asking locals which operators work for them combined with checking each operator's coverage map using the links in the post above.

I have a Boost S2. I went to the net10 site and it says that my phone is compatible. It also says..... Good news, your phone is compatible to use on NET10.(Even though your phone is compatible, a few phone models cannot be used with the BYOP program and will be identified at activation.)

If I purchase a activation kit it doesn't guarantee activation...right? What are your thoughts on this?

Hello. I want to buy a Galaxy s3. I have been looking on Craigslist and have found a few but do not know what prepaid service has the best coverage for my area. I live in Columbus,OH. We do have unlocking services here but I do not know the difference between GSM and CDMA and all the sub types. I do not want to buy a phone from someone I cannot use. Thank you for your time.

I have no personal experience with coverage in Columbus OH. Use the links to all the carrier's coverage maps on this page to see which ones will work for you. Even better, ask friends, neighbors and family members about the carriers they use or have used in your area.

CDMA and GSM are two incompatible network technologies. AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM. Verizon and Sprint use CDMA.

It's safest and easiest to buy new phones that are sold for use with the prepaid carrier of you choice. Used phones and phones intended for a different carrier tend to be problematic. Things to watch out for:

Phones that were reported lost or stolen or where the previous owner has a past due bill will be blacklisted and can't be activated on any carrier.

Unlocked AT&T and T-Mobile phones will work on either carrier but may not get 3G data.

CDMA phones are difficult to move between carriers. They need to be "Flashed" which is expensive, easily broken and not possible with some phone models. In addition CDMA carriers can block arbitrary devices for commercial reasons. Sprint doesn't allow phones released in the last 12 months to be activated on its MVNOs. LTE phones are blocked on Verizon prepaid and require flashing to work on Verizon MVNOs.

I deleted your first comment which included your email address. Posting your email in an online forum like this will result in you getting tons of SPAM. To get replies emailed to you, create a new comment on this post and check the "Notify me" box below the comment form.

How does the new Nexus 5 figure into the Straight Talk plan. I need coverage in two different locations - Phoenix and zip code 85933. The only coverage in 85933 is from Verizon (which is OK). My main use is in 85224. Is there any way I can get a Nexus 5 and set it up for Verizon coverage in both locations?

A Nexus 5 will not work on Straight Talk as CDMA (Verizon) phone. It will only work with a Straight Talk SIM (AT&T or T-Mobile). I suspect that someone will soon figure out how to flash the N5 to Verizon Page Plus or Selectel which are Verizon MVNOs.

From what I've read Verizon Prepaid is a no roam footprint for Verizon. Does anybody know how that compares to buying directly from T-Mobile. I'm not sure if the T-Mobile MVNO have the extensive roaming that T-Mobile direct has. Thanks

Verizon prepaid has free text roaming and extra cost voice roamingT-Mobile prepaid, MetroPCS, Solavei and Walmart Family Mobile have free voice and text roaming. GoSmart and other T-Mobile MVNOs do not have roaming

Since Ting, a Sprint MVNO, provides roaming on Verizon without charges, does it mean Ting's voice coverage is the combination of Sprint and Verizon? In another words, Ting's coverage is larger than Spring or Verizon?

Ting's roaming is determined by Sprint's roaming agreements which include roaming on various operators in specific locations. Sprint does not have a blanket agreement to roam on Verizon's entire network. In some locations where Verizon has service Sprint may roam on a different operator or not at all.

Ting's voice coverage is the same as Sprint postpaid. I doubt that it's larger than Verizon postpaid.

I am trying to figure out what would be the best pre-paid service plans. I live in Superior Wisconsin. I was thinking going t-mobile pre-paid or straight talk. Which would be your best option for coverage wise. I also can only afford so much as well, I would like a unlimited everything plan as well.

Greetings,I have a HTC Incredible and a Galaxy Nexus that were both on Verizon's network and both contracts are up. What are my choices for these phones as far as prepaid networks? can I get them to work on Straight Talk?

I want to purchase a cellphone with a Verizon sim card, independent of my existing Verizon account. I read from another individual that they lived in the Midwest but used a number in Hawaii. What do you recommend? Zip code 95401

You can buy Verizon prepaid phones without Verizon service on Amazon and at Radio Shack, Best Buy and Target. Among the current Verizon prepaid phones, I recommend the Motorola Moto G.

You won't find one with a SIM card however. Except for LTE phones and global phones Verizon phones don't use SIM cards. Verizon doesn't allow LTE phones on prepaid and has never sold a prepaid global phone.

If you know you want a phone on the Verizon network what difference does your zip code make?

Dennis, great forum. I have a Droid Razr, XT912, I would like to use in Verizon network with either Net10 or StraightTalk. I read your posted links to stuff and I am still unsettled on what to do. I was hoping to use the Samsung Galaxy SIII, but that phone looks like it won't work now. What other similar phones would work with Verizon?

Tmo has made a lot of progress refarming its 2G EDGE coverage to 4G. Here are some of the places where this has happened.http://www.tmonews.com/2014/06/t-mobile-2g-upgrade-to-4g-network-seemingly-well-underway/

Interesting overlays of the T-Mobile and Sprint native networks, from a Fierce Wireless article. The first one shows where they have overlap and unique coverage:http://assets.fiercemarkets.net/public/mdano/amis/sprinttmo-ov-big.jpgThe second one shows the spectrum they would have if they combined their holdings. Some spectrum in the purple areas would probably have to be sold to satisfy regulators before any sale or merger would be approved:http://assets.fiercemarkets.net/public/mdano/amis/sprinttmo-ag-big.jpg

I saw those maps. They show how little the merger will do to improve T-Mobile or Sprint's coverage.

I believe that instead of merging, both carriers should be buying up regional and rural operators with the same (GSM for T-Mobile or CDMA for Sprint) technology like U.S. Cellular, Cellcom and nTelos for Sprint and Alaska Wireless, Plateau Wireless, IMMIX and Viaero for T-Mobile. That would expand their coverage in addition to gaining customers.

Any knowlegde about comparison between gov't sponsored lifelink programs, phone choices and coverage quality offered in CT (free phone 250 free wireless minutes/mo. etc) as provided by Assurance and Safelink programs in terms of coverage quality (zip code will be 06751). I think it indicates Assurance offer uses virgin mobile network and Safelink offer gives a safelink wireless phone but uses tracfone service/network. Is either one better for a limited incoe- handicapped individual with limited phone needs other than having cell phone for emergencies?? Any ideas or info?? Thanks

Is there a prepaid carrier that is best to use for only occasional data? I'd like to access mobile Internet outside the home but would not be needing tons of data or super fast connections. I am considering Page Plus or Republic Wireless but don't want to pay for what I don't need. Also, does either plan have an overall better data coverage?

That depends on how much data you will use and how much voice and text usage you have and what networks will work where you will be using the phone. For under 300 total minutes + text + MB of data per month a pay as you go plan will be least expensive. Any more than that and an unlimited talk and text plan with 500MB or more of includes data will be more cost effective.

Verizon and any Verizon MVNO like PagePlus or Tracfone, Net10 and Straight Talk phones that have the code CDMA-V on the box. Phones with any other code don't run on Verizon. AT&T and their MVNOs like Cricket also have great coverage.

Hello from 95318, here on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. Our area has been controlled by Golden State Cellular, a CDMA network that allows Verizon to roam. Verizon prepaid roams here, but they get you for an extra 20 cents per minute penalty (or at least Verizon charges that). What about Straight Talk or Tracfone CDMA-V customers, are they allowed to roam? And if so, how are they charged ? If you know....thanks

TracFone and Straight Talk consider 95318 to be an AT&T market and won't sell you a CDMA (Verizon) based phone if you use that zipcode. You also won't be able to activate a CDMA in an area without Verizon native coverage. You could buy and active a CDMA phone in an area with Verizon coverage but I don't recommend it. Here's how roaming works with Straight Talk and Tracfone:Tracfone CDMA and GSM feature phones do roam. Tracfone smartphones don't.All Straight Talk CDMA phones don't roam. All Straight Talk GSM phones do roam.If you roam very much (more than about 25-50% of the tine) TracFone/Straight talk will permanently disable roaming on you account without warning.

Coverage varies. It has nothing to do with where the phone was activated.

Updating the PRL sometimes helps:1. In an area where you have a signal signal, on the main screen, tap the "Phone icon."2. Enter "*22890," then tap the "Phone" icon.3. Your phone profile and PRL will be updated. When finished, a "Phone is activated!" message will appear at the top of your screen. Tap "Next." Your phone will restart.

If you continue having coverage problems at your current location changing phones or providers is the only solution.

I live in NW Indiana and have had a tracfone for the past four years. It was activated here BUT I used the number I had in Seattle Washington . So, technically, tracfone tells me it was activated in Washington. Anyway, the past 3 months I either have full bars or no bars. At first it was just once in awhile and now I can have no bars for many mnay hours. If I travel out of this immediate area I can get bars then when I come back home I have bars for awhile . In the middle of the night I have full bars. I don't get it. Many calls to tracfone and many different answers. I finally bought a new tracfone LG306G and want to activate it but want to keep my old number. Does it really make a difference in coverage what zip code you give them when activating service? I am frustrated Tracfone has absolutely no customer service I was told I needed a new sim card, the tower was being worked on, I need a new phone number, I need a new phone, walk to the window and walk outside, to they just don't know. Where is the "subscribe by email link?" I don't see it anywhere. You seem to be a wealth of information. thank you

Dennis, I just figured out how to sign up for email answer. I did that but I guess maybe I need to repost my question? I live in NW Indiana and have had a tracfone for the past 4 years. I activated here BUT with my number and zip code in Washington state because I did not want to lose that number from the previous phone I had. Anyway, the past 4 months I either have bars or no bars. Service or no service. never had this problem before. It started out just for a short time and now I can go many many hours with no service. Tracfone customer service has been useless. After many calls and conversations I had answers of, you need a new sim card, you must have moved, you need a new phone, they are working on the tower, my application wont open , I don't know........frustrated I bought a new tracfone LG306G. I want to activate it BUT I would like to keep my old number. Does it really make a difference if I give them my zip code in Washington to activate or should I use the zip code here and have to change phone numbers .? How do I comment as for you to answer me by email? When I click name and url it seems like it would post my email address. Thx for your patience

To activate your new phone and keep your old number choose the "Transfer my number and service from one TracFone to another." on the TracFone online activation page. When you do that it doesn't ask for a zipcode as it isn't assigning a new number.

If you want to post using your name instead of anonymous, choose the name/url option. It doesn't ask for your email address. The url is field is optional, you can put your personal blog, Face book profile or Tumblr, etc. in that field if you want to.

Dennis, Does it make a difference in zip code you use and coverage ? When I had my Washington number and the phone started acting up....no bars. When I called tracfone they told me I needed a new number. I said it worked fine for four years why now do I need a new number? There answers are all scripted .Do I need a local number to get the best reception? This in response to the question above?

myabe you can help me understand something. We have been with tracfone for years and just recently ordered 3 new phones(myself,hubbyand daughter) now tracfone wont activate them because they say there is no technology in our area for these phones. The samsung galaxy centura. It is a cdma phone correct? we are in NC, which is completely shaded on the cdma map and almost completely on the gsm. They wont transfer number and min to the android phone and number can't be transferred to a new zip. I have checked zips all around me and it says it will work in almost all of them. Some are less than 10 min from me and a couple of them won't even give me a signal now with my GSM phone. I am considering activating with a new number but I have to buy a min card to do that and don't want to waste more money since we are 180 bucks in on the 3 new phones that we are stuck with because of store policy and we ordered them a mnth before Christmas.

If you check the address your current number was activated at on the Verizon Prepaid Coverage Map does it show "Prepaid Coverage" there? If it does the TracFone rep's information is wrong and it should be possible to activate the CDMA Android phones on your current number. If that is the case try making the phone swap using the TracFone website rather than calling,

If doing the transfers online won't work and you have to call you may have to call multiple times and/or ask for a supervisor to find a rep who is able to make the transfer.

If there is no Verizon service at the location of your current number you will have to accept a new number and your phones will not work at that location however you should not lose the balance and minutes on your account. Assigning a new number to a current account is a pretty common practice and it should not be too hard to find a rep to do it.

OK thank you, I have tried online and chat and on the phone. I can't hardly understand any of them and it always seems they are talking in circles! I will double check with the verizon map, let myself calm down a day or two and tray again lol...you just helped more in that reply than 100 of their reps have! thanks again

I ordered a phone for my birthday and its a tracfone, I checked to see if it worked here before I bought it and it was supposed to but when we tried to activate it, it said that they don't offer coverage here. I was wondering if you can use a different zip code than where you live and it still work where you live?

TracFone non-smartphones have voice and text roaming so if you can get it activated in a different location there's an excellent chance that voice and text, but not data and MMS, will work in a location without native coverage. TracFone Android phones don't roam.

T-Mobile briefed at an investor conference recently that they are expanding coverage by 1 million square miles in the US over the next 10 months. LTE coverage is projected to increase by 35M people, to 300M. Thanks to Tmo News and HoFo for the charts with maps posted here: http://www.tmonews.com/2015/02/t-mobiles-lte-coverage-map-will-look-like-this-by-the-end-of-2015/ and here: http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php/1858211-T-Mobile-s-Projection-Coverage-Expansion-Map-for-End-of-2015

I believe that 53590 is covered by all four national networks but don't take my word for it use coverage map links in the post to verify coverage.

As for what's best that depends on how much and where you travel and how much data you really need. The only truly unlimited data plans are from MetroPCS and T-Mobile at $60 and $80 per month respectively. Unless you watch a lot of video on your phone or stream music all day long you can probably can probably get by on 1-2 GB of data per month at a lower price with better coverage from an AT&T based operator like Cricket. See The Best US Prepaid Phone Plans For Data Users for a summary of what's available.

Interesting article about how Sprint and T-Mobile both reached 280 Million POPs coverage with their LTE networks; Verizon and AT&T now cover 308 Million each. Updates on 2015 network expansion status, and new retail stores planned to match the increase. http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/t-mobile-catches-sprint-both-carriers-now-cover-280-million-pops-lte/2015-05-14

I haven't been to Colorado Springs in over 20 years. It's a good sized city so I imagine all four carriers will give at least decent service in the city proper. Check the maps to compare coverage in surrounding areas which are very rugged and were quite sparsely populated when I was there.

I am going to be in bermuda, st kits, San Juan Puerto rico, st thomas and would like to keep communications with my family. What pre paid could I get that won't kill me with roaming fees? I am with straight talk now and have gotten excellent service here in the states, but straight talk said they don't provideservice coming into thestates,,, any advice?.

To follow up on "Unknown's" comment: Cricket uses AT&T towers in the U.S. , and roams for voice and text (no data) on the Roger's network in Canada. You would have to have an unlocked (or AT&T locked) GSM phone to sign up for Cricket service, and would need to get either the $50/mo. "Smart" plan, or the $60/mo "Pro" plan to roam in Canada.If you needed GPS on your phone, I suggest that you sign up for the free Nokia "HERE" GPS App, and download the appropriate state and provincial maps for your route. This program is free, is "Maps On Board", meaning that it does not require data, just a GPS signal, and works great.

Cricket's coverage in Canada uses the Rogers Network, and does not include the Yukon Territory, meaning that you will not be able to call 867 area code #'s, but may be able to call from YT to other area codes in Canada and the US -- I'm not sure. Here in Alaska Cricket works great, since it uses the AT&T network, which in my experience has by far the best coverage.

If you do go with Cricket, I would sure love a report on service (if any) in YT.

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